Fidelity to their True Lord

It has been 5 years since Estefan started his training inside the Grey Zone. A group of men were seen wearing a black cloak which covered their entire body, a black fedora with a demonic mask. They were standing some metres near the hill where Estefan was training as they were keeping an eye on there.

"You sure that you saw someone there." One of them asked, "Yes! I am telling you like he was training inside a cave. It was so terrifying.." Another one of them answered. "But are you sure about this? Maybe this person could be a threat who wants to kill us." One of them commented, "Everything is a gamble for people like us who are walking in a thin thread of life and death. But we must take the bet and see if this person can be an ally." They all began to slowly approach the hill.

They were shocked due to witnessing many craters across the ground and on the hill, the ones on the hill especially had fist marks as if someone was using the entire hill like a punching bag.

"Such terrifying strength." One of the cloaked figures muttered. "Be careful everyone, it's clear the person we are dealing with is sixth or above class so he prepared to run away." The person who seemed to be the commanding figure of the group spoke.

After some more walking they arrived in front of the cave and suddenly a powerful pressure hit them making them breathless and lose balance, one of them even fell unconscious due to being unable to handle the pressure.

The person who stood in front of them yelled "Everyone go back, GO BACK!" That was the only person who managed to stand properly getting the full brunt of the pressure but that still caused issues where blood began to pour out from their mask.

They all made their way towards the forest, some of them screaming to the men who fell unconscious. "Two died." One of them said, "We must alert the commander about this now." After an hour of resting they all departed towards the northern region inside the Grey Zone.

After a day, they arrived. Originally there were 7 total individuals in the team but 5 of them died with two dying near the hill and 3 on their way back due to the aftereffects of the pressure they felt.

It was an abandoned settlement, not that massive but there were many houses made from wood. At the centre there was a larger 3 floored building made out of wood, it was big enough to house at least a hundred people at once. The survivors arrived at the third floor which had a massive wooden table at the centre which had the carvings of the entire Duchy. There were many areas detailed such as bases of the knights of House Angeras along with key areas important to the military.

In front of the table stood an old man, he was cladded with black armour and a cloak as well but he didn't cover his armour with the cloak instead proudly showed it off. His black facial hair with some strands of white showing his old age, the man has a scar across his face from his left side forehead to his left side face cheek. He was a huge man whose presence itself makes anyone feel like they are standing in front of a tall wall.

They all kneeled "Commander Periyan, we are here to report." The commander did not speak nor even bothered to look at them because he very well knew they failed but he slowly raised his right arm indicating them to speak. "We lost five men Sir. But not to the enemies but we found something else, a person training inside a cave near the central forest area. That person was incredibly strong, capable of causing a large crater with their fist... The pressure released from the cave was so strong that it killed some of my men." The report was given which made Commander Periyan lift his gaze from the map and back at them.

He smiled for a second before returning to an inscrutable expression "I see, take me there now." He ordered the survivors while walking past them and 50 more similar black cloaked figures followed the commander.

The Commander along with his men and survivors travelled towards the central region, due to the survivors being tired they were left out while the Commander and his team reached the central forest earlier than them and waited for them.

"We must be careful Sir." One of the men said to the Commander, "The demonic followers will not dare to strike us at day time, especially under my presence. They would rather stay back unless they desire to meet their maker." He was a prideful man.

The survivors finally arrived after some hours and showed the Commander and his men the way towards the Hill.

Commander Periyan froze when he saw the craters. They were correct in what he thought at that moment because only a strong individual can cause such destruction not to mention this was just training so the person must be stronger than what he is seeing now. Maybe strong enough to destroy the demon and reclaim his lord's City. The Commander would hope with every step he took, because such a strength would be definitely necessary for reclamation and revenge.

They finally arrived in front of the Cave and he felt the pressure "Class Six... No, this can be Class Seven.... Incredible strength." He began to shiver, his men were all Class Three while he was a Class Four. To meet someone with such strength was a terrifying yet glorious outcome especially when the person was human or so he hoped.

Suddenly they felt an incredible amount of pressure including a sharp gaze from the Cave, all of them were forced to kneel with heads touching the very ground unable to see the silhouette inside the Cave which was dark. Commander Periyan was the only one who could manage to keep his head raised up while being forced to kneel.

"THIS." He gulped "Grandmaster Ulf.. it cannot be! Have you survived?." The Commander sensed a familiar energy from the individual belonging to his once higher up the former Grandmaster of Angeras knights.

But he suddenly realised that it wasn't Ulf but someone younger "It cannot be, he has a successor." All of a sudden he felt something dense, something sharp going through his right shoulder. He began to hear the sounds of liquid splashing on the ground.

Commander Periyan slowly turned his head to the tight, he was shocked to see his right arm perfectly cut off from his shoulders as it got flung into the air before his separated arm fell down on the ground. The Commander grabbed the wound to close it since he was losing blood, using aura he managed to close it off to prevent blood loss but he heard it "How dare you utter his name." It was a terrifying voice, deep like the ocean but was so dense that he felt like being suffocated.

Commander Periyan gathered his energy to take control because the fear was that much traumatising for the Old man's mind "I - I.. was the... the second in command of the Grandmaster, I have every right to use his name for he is the reason I am alive..." The Commander managed to utter some words even with fear deeply entrenched in his heart.

"You must be Commander Periyan, the right hand of Ulf." The Voice remained terrifying and deep like before but there was slight warmth behind it "Yes... I was, he sacrificed himself to save us." The Commander responded with fear yet sorrow.

Estefan slowly walked out from the darkness, his body was bigger. He grew to six feet in the span of five years he managed to reach peak physique. His body was chiselled to perfect shape while just being 15. His hair grew but was tied using his shirt which he ripped, he remained shirtless and his pants were all but dirty since it has been 5 years. His former wounds also healed, both internal and external wounds.

The Commander understood "Young Master Estefan, what in the world are you doing here? Has he betrayed you as well." Those words made Estefan say "Seems like my father has successfully betrayed everyone around him." Which also confirmed the Commander's doubt.

His red eyes were glowing like rubies perhaps due to the strength he now possesses "Has the Grandmaster given you his essence?" For which Estefan nodded "Yes, he also gave me his revenge as well which I will fulfil." But the Commander kneeled and begged "Allow me and my men to assist you my lord. I will pledge my loyalty to you so please allow me to get my revenge for my master." But Estefan questioned "Why should I?" But Periyan began to reason "The demon spared me so I can train a group of survivors at the North, most of them are Class Three. I can make them Class Four, we are talking about five hundred strong warriors willing to die for my revenge so please use me, use my men as a tool for your revenge." The Commander pleaded to be part of this Revenge which Estefan sought.

"So the demon craves battle since he also spared me, telling me to train so he can fight me in the future." Estefan wondered but he looked down at Periyan, "I will give you four more years old man, train them to Class Four.. all of them, make a strong army which can march on towards the Duchy and capture it... I will slay the Demon and recapture this City along with this Duchy which have wronged me in every possible way." Estefan exclaimed, "There will definitely be revenge, it shall be brutal and cruel in every aspect. I will show them no mercy the same way they showed no mercy to me... I will wipe them out so tell me Old man, are you truly willing to be my hunting dog." The Commander continued to kneel and shouted "Yes My Lord." Estefan remained standing there with an inscrutable facet because he realised that emotions were useless.

"You will be my Bloodhounds, now return to your base and prepare. You will all have four years, if you don't achieve the target then I will simply abandon you there and continue on with my revenge by myself." Estefan yawned before he walked back into the Cave. After he left the vicinity the pressure dissipated allowing them to stand but the Commander who had lost his right arm rejoiced, he was a left hander so he can still use a sword using his aura and even train them but he was happy because there was someone to get revenge for his master who was betrayed along with him.

He stood up, looked at his men "I have trained you all for many years for my revenge but now we are about to commit ourselves for an even more glorious purpose. We shall return and prepare ourselves for the sake of my master and our Lord." They did not question Periyan, they were all loyal to him and if he was loyal to Estefan then they were more than willing to bend their knees in front of Estefan.

All of them departed the area to train and prepare for what was about to come, 5 more years left till the task given to Estefan to prove his innocence. The reclamation of the lost City Rammstein which also means defeating the Demon who conquered the City.

Estefan now has to prepare for four more years and then fight at the last remaining year and recapture the City before the time is over. It was not to prove that he has done something incredible but it was to prove that he was strong and will come for them after.